Restaurant Review: Peking Duck House

Peking Duck House

I recently spent a weekend in New York City with my daughter Amanda. It was definitely much colder than Orlando, and the geography was significantly different. It was a welcome change, and it gave us the opportunity to be tourists. We rode the subway to Little Italy, took the tram to Roosevelt Island, nabbed great photos of the skyline, walked up and down Times Square, hung out at Rockefeller Center, strolled Park Ave, and explored Chinatown. We spent a lot of time, too, searching for the perfect cannoli. (I think it’s possible that we ate our way through the city.)

Peking Duck at the Peking Duck House

The first night in the city we met up with Chris and Steve, two of ONO’s guest authors (Chris is my brother). We had lunch at Lombardi’s earlier that day, and decided on the Peking Duck House in Chinatown for dinner. As you might guess, the Peking Duck House “is all about the duck” and is “one of the most sophisticated arts of Chinese cooking” as touted on the PDH website.

Peking Duck, Pancake, Scallions, Cucumber, and Special Sauce

I’m not a fan of duck regardless of how it’s cooked, but I tried it, and I was immediately hooked. The duck was crispy and succulent and downright delish! The Peking Duck House delivered as promised.

Peking Duck Appetizer Platter

The Peking Duck Dinner is about $29 per person. The Peking Duck Dinner serves 4-8, and 4 is the minimum. It’s served with pancakes, scallions, cucumbers, and special sauce; appetizers; soup; 2-6 entrees, depending on the number in your group; and, dessert.

General Tso’s Chicken and Green Beans with Minced Pork

We had six in our group, so we ate appetizers (steamed dumpling, spring roll and barbecued beef); our choice of hot and sour, won ton, or house special duck soup; four entrees—General Tso’s Chicken, Shrimp in Garlic Sauce, Crispy String Beans with Minced Pork, and Sliced Beef with Broccoli.

Shrimp in Garlic Sauce

Fried Banana with Walnut was served for dessert. The Peking Duck House offers more than just its delicious roast duck. Appetizers range from $3.50 – $32.00; Chinese Specialilites run $12.25 – $75.00 (Shark’s Fin); and House Specialialites are $14.50 on up.

Fried Banana with Walnut

Service was excellent. The food was served fairly soon after we ordered, and it was freshly cooked (no heat lamps or microwave dinners). If you ever have the chance to visit Chinatown in New York, the Peking Duck House is a must. You won’t be disappointed. Make a reservation though; it’s packed with loyal patrons.

What a coincidence, my friend brought me here when I was visitng two weeks ago. I can say it stands with the best Chinese food I’ve ever had, and I live in Vancouver where we have some of the best Chinese restaurants in the world.